Axial spacer for a rotational assembly

Abstract

An axial spacer for a rotational assembly comprising a body, a rotational assembly attaching member and a centering member. The body comprises an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of reinforcing members extending between the inner ring and the outer ring. The reinforcing members each comprise an annular reinforcing rim extending from the outer ring and a connecting beam extending from the annular reinforcing rim to the inner ring. A plurality of web members extend between adjacent reinforcing members and the inner and outer ring, to, in turn, substantially couple adjacent reinforcing members with the inner and outer ring therebetween. The attaching means comprises an opening extending through at least a plurality of the plurality of reinforcing members. The centering member centers the spacer relative to the rotational assembly.

1. A one-piece monolithic axial spacer for a rotational assembly, comprising:
 a body having an outer ring, wherein the outer ring includes a top surface and a bottom surface, an inner ring, wherein the inner ring includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and further wherein the inner ring is spaced apart from the outer ring, a plurality of reinforcing members extending between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a plurality of web members extending between adjacent reinforcing members and the inner and outer ring; 
 means for attaching the spacer to a rotational assembly, the attaching means comprising an opening extending through at least a plurality of the plurality of reinforcing members; and 
 means for centering the spacer relative to the rotational assembly, wherein the centering means comprises a centering flange disposed on an inner surface of the inner ring, wherein the centering flange includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the centering flange is offset relative to the inner ring such that the bottom surface of the flange is positioned between the top and bottom surface of the inner ring and the top surface of the flange is positioned above the top surface of the inner ring, and such that a step is formed by the centering flange relative to the inner ring. 
 
   
   
     2. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of reinforcing members each comprise:
 an annular reinforcing rim extending from the outer ring; and 
 a connecting beam extending from the annular reinforcing rim to the inner ring. 
 
   
   
     3. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein an arcuate portion of the annular reinforcing rim substantially blends with the outer ring. 
   
   
     4. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 3  wherein the arcuate portion is about π/2 radians. 
   
   
     5. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein the connecting beam of each one of the plurality of reinforcing members is positioned between the inner ring and the annular reinforcing rim. 
   
   
     6. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein the annular reinforcing rim has a diameter which is greater than ⅛ that of the outer ring. 
   
   
     7. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein a width of the connecting beam of each of the reinforcing members is substantially equal to the radial thickness of each of the inner ring and the outer ring. 
   
   
     8. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein the annular reinforcing rim further includes a compression limiter insert associated therewith, wherein the compression limiter insert limits the compression of the axial spacer upon deployment. 
   
   
     9. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 2  wherein the annular reinforcing rim of each of the reinforcing members and the respective opening extending therethrough define a radial thickness of the annular reinforcing rim, the radial thickness of the annular reinforcing rim is substantially equal to a radial thickness of the outer ring. 
   
   
     10. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 1  wherein the web members each have a thickness which is between approximately 10% and 90% of the thickness of the outer ring. 
   
   
     11. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 1  wherein each of the web members are substantially planar and of a substantially uniform thickness. 
   
   
     12. The monolithic axial spacer of  claim 1  wherein a radial thickness of the outer ring is substantially identical to the radial thickness of the inner ring.